Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's wife barred from leaving Spain amid corruption case

A Spanish judge ordered Begoña Gómez, the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, to surrender her passport and prohibited her from leaving Spain. The restriction, imposed by Judge Juan Carlos Peinado, requires Gómez to report to the court twice a month and includes instructions for border and airport controls to enforce the travel ban.

Gómez faces charges of embezzlement, influence peddling, corruption in business activities and misuse of public funds, stemming from an alleged scheme involving a university chair at the Complutense University of Madrid. The investigation began in April 2024; a trial date has not yet been set. Political reactions include criticism from the Socialist Party and comments from Justice Minister Félix Bolaños, while Sánchez has so far refused to resign despite calls for it.

The case is part of a broader series of corruption investigations affecting members of Sánchez’s government and allies, though the prime minister himself is not accused.